If you’re looking for a real-life thriller experience, becoming a parent is a great way to dive in. For those without kids, consider borrowing a friend’s little ones for a weekend to witness the nighttime antics firsthand. When the moon is high and the world outside is cloaked in darkness, the strange occurrences begin.
The house transforms into a living entity, with creaking floorboards and the clinking of dishes in an empty kitchen. You might hear whispers that vanish as soon as you strain to listen. And then, there are your children, emerging from their rooms to engage in the most peculiar behaviors.
As someone who is already easily startled, I now have to muster the courage to face these nightly frights — after all, I don’t want to spend their childhood budgeting for therapy. I’ve learned to downplay the spooky moments because, let’s be honest, nobody wants to be the cause of their child’s fear over something that might not even exist. Here are some of the creepiest moments I’ve experienced as a parent:
- Sleep Laughing: There’s nothing amusing about a child laughing in their sleep after midnight.
- Night Terrors: These episodes are genuinely unsettling. After screaming, they gaze through you, not at you, as they wander around the room in a daze.
- Silent Stalkers: Waking up to find a child silently standing by your bed inches from your face can give anyone a heart attack. That’s when they whisper, “Hi, Daddy.”
- Panic Over Nothing: One night, my daughter climbed into bed, terrified of something in her room. Moments later, she was frantically asking to go back. I carried her back, but the fear that whatever haunted her room had now joined us lingered.
- Sleepwalking: I once woke up to check on the kids and discovered one of them on the couch, covered with a blanket, eyes half-open, completely asleep.
- Bizarre Questions: While settling down for the night, my 4-year-old asked, “Which way to Grandma and Grandpa’s?” When I pointed north, she turned and asked, “What about her?”
- Fear of Closed Doors: In our previous home, my kids developed a sudden fear of closed doors, crying and shaking if theirs was shut. We ended up propping it open and lighting up the room so brightly it was practically daytime.
- Crying Over Closed Doors: I could have sworn I left it open, but somehow, they were still upset.
- Mysterious Lights on Monitors: Over the years, I’ve seen strange orbs and shadows on the baby monitor, and sometimes their eyes glow eerily in the dark.
- Curiosity About Noises: After explaining a strange noise outside, I’d finish with “It’s nothing,” while peering out the window, half-expecting a figure to appear wearing a mask.
You don’t need a Ouija board when you have kids and a baby monitor. They seem to either amplify the eerie or attract it — perhaps both. I can confidently say I’ve lost more sleep over my children’s odd behaviors than anything else. Well, except for that week of sleepless nights after watching Paranormal Activity, convinced the cat’s shadow was roaming the house alone.
This topic is one of many that the What to Expect books overlook, and they really should address it. After all, who wouldn’t want to know that one day, they would wake up to the chilling words, “Hi, Daddy,” from a figure standing silently by their bedside?
For further insights into parenting and related topics, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination at Healthline or learn more about DIY parenting techniques like using an artificial insemination kit.
Summary
The nighttime behaviors of children can often resemble elements of a horror movie, from sleep laughing to night terrors and eerie whispers. As parents, we face the challenge of managing these unsettling occurrences while ensuring our kids feel safe and secure.